All Creatures Great and ...
Ticket Information
Student/Senior/Alumni | $10
Adult | $20
- online
- by phone | 780.492.2495
- in person | Tuesday & Thursday, 11:00am – 2:00pm at the Timms Box Office | Timms Centre for the Performing Arts, 112 Street & 87 Avenue
- at the door (cash or card)
All Creatures Great and ...
UofA Concert Band | Daryl Price, Director
Guest Conductor | Sarah Rossi
December 3, 2023
3:00 PM | Convocation Hall
The University of Alberta Concert Band would like to invite you to our winter concert, featuring the music of Ticheli, Smith, and Curnow. We will be reminded that all creatures are great to someone… or something…
LOL, or Laughing Out Loud, is a quick two-and-a-half-minute work, by Robert Buckley. It is fast-paced, energetic and a little bit chaotic, instilling imagery of a circus march. The melody is quick, yet coherent, but is often broken with short, cartoon-like phrases from various instruments like the piccolo, trombone and snare drum. It was composed by Robert Buckley, a well-known composer for ensemble music, as a musical celebration displaying impressive technique while also portraying humour. This piece is sure to dazzle, and keep you all laughing - well after the performance.
Written as a tribute of friendship for conductor H Robert Reynolds, Sanctuary is an emotional work that conveys rich images of peace, solitude, rest and protection. This work was commissioned by the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association – the ensemble that Reynolds conducted for nearly 26 years. As a dear friend to Reynolds, Frank Ticheli composed this piece to honour Reynolds contributions to music throughout the years. The solo horn carries many of the main musical motives, as Reynolds was a horn player. The opening prologue played by the horn is based around the letters of his first name, and is a theme that is echoed throughout the work as it builds in suspense. Ticheli also incorporates motives from some of Percy Grainger’s works, such as Colonial Song, to represent ideas of stillness and solitude, which were some of Reynold’s favourite pieces during his university days. Sanctuary is calm and hopeful. With a simple three-chord progression that threads the work together, ideas of solitude and peace are evoked in every section, as the work builds up to an intense climax driven by fast runs in the flutes and dark chords in the low brass. The work comes to an end after a brief period of woodwind solos, and a recurrence of an echo of the opening horn theme. With powerful imagery, this work will evoke stillness and contemplation.
The Inferno, which is the first movement of a larger composition entitled Symphony No. 1, The Divine Comedy, is energetic and full of life. It is based on the literary classic of the same name by Dante Alighieri. Just like in the classic literary work, the Inferno is based around the nine circles of hell, further divided into four categories of sin. The main theme throughout this work is the idea of symbolic retribution, or in other words, the idea that an individual’s level of sin on Earth is directly related to their weight of suffering in hell. The work follows the story of Dante, who finds himself lost in a dark wood. After being led to a place of contemplation of Hell and Purgatory by Virgil, they embark on a journey through the circles of Hell. The opening statement in this piece is played by the oboe, representing the sins of incontinence, leading to the entrance into the gates of hell. Following the entrance to this shameful land, the sin of violence is produced with intense runs and complex rhythms, leading into the crimes of ordinary fraud. Finally, the Inferno reaches its climax with the sins of treacherous fraud. As Dante enters this circle, there is a horn call played by the trumpets in the distant background. Dante is lowered into the depths of this circle, where he meets Lucifer and witnesses horrific evils. After a careful climb down Lucifer's ladder, he and Virgil manage to escape the treacherous hell, leaving the Inferno behind them. Composed by Robert W Smith, this piece tells an epic story of darkness, through the use of visual imagery, technical passages, a wide range of percussion and explosive sounds in both the winds and the brass.
Arabian Dances is a beautiful work that combines authentic traditional melodies and rhythms from the Middle East with modern musical ideas. Written by Brian Balmages, a prominent American composer for wind ensemble repertoire, this piece features rich melodies being passed through the different instrument sections. After a mysterious opening from the flutes and wind chimes, the piece expands into a dancing groove, featuring authentic Middle Eastern percussion instruments. The folk song, Ala Dal’ona, is played by the ensemble, portraying imagery of yearning but playful love. As the orchestration builds up from the woodwinds, new contemporary melodies become intertwined with original folk grooves. The third section opens with solo percussion featuring both new and authentic instruments, and the fourth section transitions into an ostinato of the original theme. Balmage’s use of intentional dynamics, overlapping of new and authentic melodies and unique timbres makes this work cohesive and fun for every listener to enjoy.
James Curnow is a well-known educator, composer and music arranger. He has written multiple works for wind bands that evoke vivid imagery through storytelling, and his work, Canticle of the Creatures, is no exception. Spanning sixteen minutes, this work is divided into six distinct movements that represent writings by Saint Francis of Assisi, each of which express his love and respect for all creatures. The movements are considered to be miniature tone poems, and will each evoke ideas of tranquility, love and admiration for the natural world.
Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honour, and all blessing.
To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no human is worthy to mention Your name.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day and through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour;
and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather,
through whom You give sustenance to Your creatures.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night,
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains and governs us,
and who produces various fruit with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your
love, and bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed are those who endure in peace
for by You, Most High, shall they be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whom no one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,
for the second death shall do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks
and serve Him with great humility.
University of Alberta Concert Band 2023-2024
Flute 1
Emma Cowie
Laurence Espallardo
Makenna Graham
Margo Hornett ***(Piccolo)
Sanjna Kaushal
Kian Merkosky* (Piccolo)
Annika Pries
Kaylee Patuelli-McLellan
Lloyd Ramirez
Flute 2
Joy Andaya
Hannah Bayne*
Kyla De Groot
Rhondda Gower
Toby Maltais
Natalia Pilip
Chrissy Powers
Calla Vanderleest
Emma Wang
Lizzy Wharmby
Oboe
Isabella Komlenic*
Mando Sanchez-Wegmann
Bassoon
Lauren Bayne
Drew Dempsey*
Clarinet 1
Sam Callihoo
Gwen Delos Santos*
Felix Ye
Clarinet 2
Krisha Doherty
Nathan Heinbuch
Gabrielle Varewyck-Dube*
Colby Zelt
Clarinet 3
Stephanie Guloien
Sarah Rossi **
Leila Thomas*
Faith Whitehouse
Bass Clarinet
Haley Lacza
Alto Saxophone
Janelle Constantino
JJ Mrazek
Cynthia Philips
Mina Phillips-Castillo
Jordan Smith*
Jacob Tran
Tenor Saxophone
Kayia Hartfield
Anthony Prakash
Jann Santiago*
Aaron Watamaniuk
Baritone Saxophone
Aidan Grant
Trumpets
Debo Adeola
Ashlyn Anthony*
Mencha Fonji
Ethan Rahn
Alli St. Germaine
Ibrahim Toume
Horn
Jayce Cornelius
Jane Joh
Genevieve Lyder
Emma Massick*
Lexi Rudrum
Trombone 1
Scott Snider*
Marcus Wong
Trombone 2
Sophie Berubé
Danielle Overton
Trombone 3
Sydney Davidson-Yee
Ethan Spalek
Euphonium
Amna Kamal
Tuba
Jarod Chiasson*
Percussion
Reece Antler
Elijah Barnet
Oscar Horsman
Margo Hornett
Christopher Lalonde
Angelina Lee*
David Morissette
Melody Ngo
Adam Rudy
* denotes section leader
** denotes assistant conductor
*** denotes teaching assistant